Eagles offense is prepared to soar this season

Like any other year, CSC’s Dalton Holst, of Gillette, Wyoming, said the goal of the Eagles’ offense this season is to put up a lot of points and get a lot of yards. But the junior quarterback knows his core group of players is another year older since going 7-3 last season. Combine that fact with the Eagles being ranked third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, the pressure for Holst’s offense to perform has perhaps never been higher.

“This year we’re a bit older,” Holst said. “In past years we’ve talked about being a little young. We’re old and experienced so expectations are high to be one of the top offenses in the RMAC and in the country. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.”

Holst says he’s as confident as ever. 

The Eagles’ offense will return skilled players in several key positions, the exception being on the offensive line, but Masters said he believes Chadron has the two best offensive line coaches in college football in Coach Jay Long and Coach Jake Geil, and he’s been impressed with the progress of their new lineman.

“I know you think four new o-lineman and you’re thinking ‘oh crap,’” Masters said. “But they’ve gotten better and better. All of them stayed this summer and busted their butts with Coach Greiss. So we’re as strong, as athletic as we’ve been since I’ve been here.”

The line does return one starter, all-conference senior Jared Maciejczak, of Box Elder, South Dakota, who will move to center from tackle. Sophomore Austin Rapp, of Moville, Iowa, a redshirt-freshman starter who played well at left guard last season, is currently recovering from neck surgery.

Behind the o-line, Holst returns as the no-doubt starter at the quarterback position. 

“In my opinion – best quarterback in the league,” Masters said. “He’s going to stay on the field. He’s our leader, he’s our guy.”

Masters said during the offseason Holst stepped up in the locker room, becoming more vocal and taking ownership of his position as a leader on the team. 

Holst completed about 57 percent of his passes in 2018 and threw for 2,603 yards and 22 touchdowns. 

Helping the passing game will be the return of several of Holst’s most prolific targets including Cole Thurness, of Rapid City, South Dakota, Tevon Wright, of Miami, Brandon Fullerton, of  Riverton, Wyoming, and Jackson Dickerson of Chadron.

Behind them, two sophomores, Chad Mikelson, of Julesburg, Colorado and Jahani Wright, of Miami, will also vie for reps.

“The best part is competition,” Masters said of the receiving corps. “They can’t take a day off because someone is going to pass them and take their job.”

In addition to the returning wide receivers, the Eagles will also get back tight end Colt Foster, who missed last season with an injury, and Matt Vargas, who replaced Foster last season. 

In 2017 Foster led the all RMAC tight ends with 561 receiving yards in just six games played. He was named the conference’s best tight end ahead of the 2018 season but was injured on the first play of the Eagles first game that year. 

Though the passing game should be strong, Masters sees the run game as part of the Eagles identity.

“We’re still going to run the ball because we’re Chadron State,” he said. “We’re just going to find more ways to do it – mix in some (run-pass options) so if teams have too many guys inside the box we’ll throw outside.”

With the graduation of Kevin Coy Jr., the door has opened for any number of the Eagles’ running backs to take contribute to the ground game. 

“We feel good that we’re going to have four very capable guys,” Masters said. “If one guy emerges as the go-to-guy, the lead back, then we’ll ride him. But we’re going to give a lot of guys carries.”

The Eagle’s top two backs look to be senior Stevann Brown, of Casper, Wyoming, and sophomore Elijah Myles, of Hawthorne, California, who were second and third in yards gained last season behind Coy. 

Masters said both have put in good work in the offseason and have looked good this spring and fall.   

Chadron should also get back the services of Priest Jennings, junior of Stockton, California, who missed all of last season with an injury. 

Masters said they’re trying not to overdo it with Jennings in practice and that trainers have been heavily involved in the process of making sure he isn’t overworked, but has a good chance of being ready for the team’s first game. 

“He’s on the right track,” Masters said. “I wouldn’t say he’s 100 percent, but he’s looked good with the ball in his hand.

A redshirt freshman transfer from Montana State, Justin Cauley, of Venice, California, could help the team ease Jennings into the rotation by providing another strong option at running back. 

Masters said the team plans to use three backs and felt they needed to go get another guy who could carry the ball. 

As the new play-caller for the team, Masters said he wants to stretch the field vertically and horizontally, play fast, and pressure defenses. 

“We’re going to try and be as explosive as possible, but we’re not going to be afraid to grind out a 10 to 12 play drive and hopefully wear out the defense,” Masters said.